Ultimately this TV makes the "dumb" "picture box" obsolete as it is essentially a computing media center with integrated WiFi that comes with a Software Development Kit (SDK) much like the iPhone so that third party developers can add periferal functionality. For example, if your cell phone rings while watching tv you can answer it through the tv without looking for your phone and any cell manufacturer can develop their own software if the platform needs it. If the caller had video you could watch them full screen or in a picture in picture mode. Or a developer can make a widget that allows you to zoom in on any portion of the screen for a close up, sized and zoomed at will. The Tv would download its own updates and search for content with a browser pane. A viewer could set alerts for virtually anything - weather, bedtime, auto shut off for children when TV time is up, tell you it's time to check the cookies in the oven. You could set up RSS feeds - for example news ticker while watching Happy Days or sports scores while watching a movie. How about a game that lets you use the remote to shoot at the bad guys on your favorite cop drama and it would make a little bullet hole image appear on your target (maybe a developer can whip up some software that takes a snapshot of the bad guy you targeted and digitally makes him die dramatically...) I'll bet TV programming will appear to take advantage of this! The possibilities are endless.

All this is made slick and user friendly (and fun!) by a Wii-like remote with point and click capability through motion sensing and multitouch technology. The remote has no buttons, only a multitouch pad which operates through simple intuitive motions. For example - to turn the tv on takes a swipe of the thumb (could have password capability) and a double tap makes a simple menu bar appear. Then either motion or a sliding finger can move a curser or scroll and then a tap to make selections Adding a remote finder is key but you can leave that up to a third party developer if you want...

All this in a borderless package with integrated digital surround sound, a side slot loading drive for DVDs, CDs, etc. and a remote charging dock that rises out of the top of the TV when you wave your hand over it.

Tagged with: smart tv, sdk, computing, media, wifi, multitouch